2/25/15: Pitchers and catchers from teams around the Majors are reporting to camp about now, so cue the injuries to the L.A. Dodgers. Right-handed starter Zack Greinke is the first to accommodate this annual ritual as he reportedly has an infection in his elbow. The Dodgers do not seem too concerned about the affliction so far, but have shut him down from throwing for a few days. Perhaps that was the motivation for signing Brandon Beachy. Beachy is coming back from his second Tommy John surgery, but can be a great pitcher if he can regain his form.
2/5/15: Well, it will be fun to see how this plays out. Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig mentioned in an interview that the Dodgers' primary rival is not San Francisco, but rather St. Louis. The Giants and Dodgers have a history going back to when both teams played in New York, and the disdain between the two organizations is very real. However, the Cardinals have been the team that has owned the Dodgers in the playoffs for both of Puig's major league season. Considering how the Cardinals beat up on Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw, the Redbirds may just be in the Dodgers' heads.
1/7/15: The Dodgers were not broken, but they did remake their team with a lot of moves during the Winter Meetings. Matt Kemp is now gone - he is with the San Diego Padres, and the Dodgers are taking $32 million of his contract. The deal nearly did not go through as there were questions about Kemp's physical. Additionally, the Dodgers signed Brandon McCarthy, while also trading Dan Haren and Dee Gordon to Miami for Andrew Heany, who they then traded to the Angels for Howie Kendrick. Andrew Friedman really moved fast and it will be a whole new look come opening day - possibly ending in that elusive World Series Title that they are searching for.
12/3/14: New Dodgers head man Andrew Friedman is not afraid to go to the well he came from. And if there is any animosity between the Dodgers and the Rays, then it did not show here. Los Angeles acquired reliever Joel Peralta and minor league pitcher Adam Liberatore from Tampa Bay for prospects Jose Dominguez and Greg Harris. Peralta is a pretty good set-up guy, but is also 38 years old. However, if there is one thing we have learned from the playoffs over the past few seasons, it is that a solid bullpen is a necessity, and that is where Peralta fits in.
11/19/14: Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw may need to add an extension to his mantle as he has two new awards that need a home. He was awarded the Cy Young Award for the third time in four years by a unanimous vote. A day later he was awarded the National League MVP award over the Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton and the Pirates Andrew McCutchen. He is the first pitcher to win both awards in the same years since Bob Gibson of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1968. These awards are for the regular season only, so the two losses to the Cardinals in the playoffs do not count. The Angel's Mike Trout won the AL MVP by a unanimous vote.
11/12/14: The rebuilding of the Dodgers' front office looks to be just about complete with the hiring of Farhan Zaidi as the new General Manager. Zaidi is an interesting hire, not just because of his youth (only 37 years old), but because of his background and approach. He is not a former ball player. In fact his has a bachelor's degree in science from MIT and a doctorate in economics from Berkley. That seems to fit the trend to more analytics. This focus on more economical philosophy is a far cry from the past few years when the Dodgers just threw money at any big name player.
11/5/14: It would be nice to have an option like this. Dodgers starter Dan Haren had a decent year, but nothing like his performances when he was younger. The Dodgers picked him up from the Washington Nationals, hoping he would solidify the back end of the rotation. The mandated term of his contract has expired but he had a $10 million player option for another year. Rather than go into free agency, and likely less money, Haren exercised his option. He gets to stay with a contending club located in Southern California and collect $10 million. Must be nice.
10/29/14: It has been a wild few weeks for the L.A. Dodgers. The team tightened up enough to take the NL West over the San Francisco Giants, but could not get past the St. Louis Cardinals in the NCDS - thanks mostly to shaky pitching from the seventh inning on. They lured a new head man away from Tampa and it looks like Don Mattingly will stay on as manager for now. Starting pitcher Dan Haren had shoulder surgery last week but is expected to be back by spring training. Haren earned the right to exercise his $10 million option for next season, and is expected to do that at some point.
10/22/14: Well that did not take long. Within days of the Dodgers being eliminated by the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Division Series, the team started overhauling the front office. This may be in response to spending $240 million on salary and not getting out of the first round, but the team hired Andrew Friedman as President of Baseball Operations. Friedman had been General Manager with the Rays for nine season and helped make them a regular contender on a shoestring budget. The next question is about the manager position, but Friedman says he is inclined to stick with Don Mattingly for right now.
10/15/14: The Dodgers and their enormous payroll went down in a ball of flames to the St. Louis Cardinals, three games to one, in the National League Division Series. The narrative of the series is that the Cardinals either figured out MVP hopeful Clayton Kershaw or Kershaw simply imploded. Kershaw has lost his last four postseason starts, all to St. Louis. The reality is that he had one bad inning in each game and the Dodgers' offense was not able to pick him up. Now the questions will be whether or not to retain manager Don Mattingly. In any case, expect the Dodgers to be back again next season, they simply have too much talent on the roster.
10/7/14: Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw has been simply dominant all season. He is a shoo-in for the Cy Young award and viable candidate for MVP. But he, for some reason, has had trouble with the St. Louis Cardinals in the postseason. Last year, they tagged him for seven runs en route to winning the series, and last Friday gave up eight (seven in one inning). Meanwhile, manager Don Mattingly is struggling with what to do in the seventh and eighth innings. The Dodgers are down 2-1 in the best of five series, and need a win tonight to get the series back to L.A.
10/1/14: To very few people's surprise, the L.A. Dodgers clinched the NL West for the second year in a row. Perhaps the only question about it was what took so long. A year ago, the Dodgers caught fire in June simply dominated the division - winning with plenty of margin and time. The Giants put up a much better fight in 2014, but simply could not keep up for the division lead over the course of the season. Of course, there is still a very good chance the two rivals will meet once again in the playoffs.
9/24/14: The Los Angeles Dodgers are going back to the playoffs. L.A. has somehow been able to play pretty well despite a spate of injuries over the past month or so. And that does not include the prolonged slump of Yasiel Puig. But they have won enough games that even if they lose out the rest of the string that they will earn a wild card spot. That is not likely, however, as they do have a 3.5 game lead over the San Francisco Giants and seem all but appointed to win the NL West. There is some concern about the starting rotation, but they have some quality arms that can get them through the playoffs.
9/17/14: The Dodgers seem to be a difficult team to read. They have a roster full of stars (and pitcher Clayton Kershaw seems to be a shoo-in for another Cy Young Award, and possibly the National League MVP), they have tons of cash, and they seem to have tons of injuries. The Golden Boy, Yasiel Puig, seems immune to criticism, or at least did until recently. Puig has struggled mightily over the past two months and now there are calls to bench him. The Dodgers are not as comfortable as they would like to be in the standings, so this may happen at some point.
8/28/14: There is just a month and change left in the regular season, and the Dodgers are showing what a lot of organizational depth plus deep pockets can do for a franchise. L.A. still has a fairly comfortable lead on the San Francisco Giants. All things being equal (and they most certainly are not), the Dodgers should be able to coast into the playoffs as the NL West champs. While the Dodgers have had, and continue to have, their share of injuries, it looks like they have the depth to overcome those issues. The next step is actually getting to the World Series.
8/21/14: Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez will get paid big money at some point, though when and by whom remains to be seen. Ramirez is reportedly looking for a $130 million deal. While the Dodgers have cash to burn, they may not want to burn it on a 30 year old shortstop with a long injury history and hitting well below his career norms. According to reports, both the team and player have decided to table contract talks until after the season. The Dodgers also have an interesting prospect named Corey Seager that could force Ramirez out in the near future. But someone will want Hanley, but it may just not be the Dodgers.
8/14/14: The Dodgers have so many big name players that it is hard to keep track of them. It is also hard to keep track when one or more goes down with injury. The last week was not kind to the Dodgers healthwise. Starting pitcher Josh Beckett is back on the disabled list with a hip injury that includes a labrum tear and two cysts. L.A. made a post non-waiver trade deadline trade with the Phillies to acquire Roberto Hernandez. Additionally, Hanley Ramirez is hurting and is missing time with a sore side and may have to go on the DL himself.
8/7/14: A couple of days before the non-waiver trade deadline the Dodgers announced that they were not going to be in the market for one of the ace pitchers available because they would not part with top prospects. That is fair enough, even if many thought it was a smokescreen. But they were true to their word (clever move for the future). What it does mean is that the team still has a glut of talent in the outfield and not everybody can play. Prospect Joc Pederson is a big loser in this. He may be ready to make the jump to the majors, but is stuck in AAA ball for now - waiting for a promotion in the event that Matt Kemp, Carl Crawfod or Andre Ethier is not available for some reason.
7/31/14: The Dodgers are looking to repeat as NL West champs and are doing a pretty good job of reaching that goal so far. They look to be active at today's trade deadline but who is getting moved and who is coming in has yet to be determined. Apparently, the team is out on the three biggest names starting pitching available - David Price (Rays), Cole Hammels (Phillies) and Jon Lester (Red Sox). The price for top prospects was simply too high according to reports. The Dodgers have one of the deepest rotations in the draft, so any of those guys would have been a luxury.
7/24/14: Of course it is well known how the Dodgers erased a 9.5 game deficit in just a few weeks to take over the top of the NL West. What may have been forgotten is that pitcher Josh Beckett was placed on the 15 day DL prior to the All-Star break with a right hip injury. Beckett is now throwing off a mound and claims to feel great. The Dodgers are stacked across the board, so Beckett is not an absolute 'must have'. At the same time, it is always comforting to have an experienced ace pitching from the four spot in the rotation. He should be back soon, and that makes the Dodgers even more dangerous.
7/17/14: The Dodgers are one of the more intriguing teams in the National League, again. Like last season, the team started off fairly slowly (unless, of course they were playing Arizona) and dug themselves into pretty sizeable hole. Then, just like last year, they caught fire and erased a huge deficit to take the lead in the NL West. And that is where we stand now - with the Dodgers and Giants essentially even going into the All-Star break. It will be a two team race the rest of the way through, and the Dodgers may have the edge simply because of their dominating pitching.
7/10/14: The Dodgers are starting to make a habit of playing mediocre baseball for the first few months of the season then turning it on when calendar hits June. In just 21 days, the team turned a 9.5 game differential into a tied race for the NL West. It was a combination of the team playing very, very well and the Giants going into a slump. As it stands now, the Dodgers are on top of the division with the Giants within arms-length. No one else in the NL West is even close, with the 'surging' Padres in third place but still nine games back.
7/3/14: For those that like big hits, crushing home runs and explosive offenses, then the Cardinals and Dodgers first game of their series last Thursday was certainly not anything they would want to see. For those that can appreciate two ace pitchers engaged in a pitcher's duel, then the Adam Wainwright vs. Josh Beckett matchup was must-see TV. The two arms traded zeros until the seventh inning when the Dodgers broke it open, scoring the only run of the night. The Dodgers are now hot on the heals of the Giants and are in striking distance of reclaiming the NL West lead.
6/26/14: Reigning Cy Young Award winner and Dodgers' ace Clayton Kershaw earned his first no-hitter of his career last week. It may seem like he has blanked the opposition before, but this was, surprisingly, his first complete game no-hitter. It would have been a perfect game except that shortstop Hanley Ramirez made an error on a throw to first, allowing one player to reach base. It was the second no-hitter of the 2014 season, the first being by teammate Josh Beckett last month. The Dodgers have 22 no-hitters in franchise history, which is the most in the major leagues.
6/19/14: It was not that long ago that the Dodgers were looking at Clayton Kershaw and Chad Billingsley as their pitchers of the future. Kershaw, of course, developed into one of the best pitchers in the game and has the stats and hardware to prove it. Billingsley, however, has struggled with injuries and has not played much. He started a rehab assignment in single-A ball to return from Tommy John surgery (April 2013). Unfortunately, he suffered a partial tear of the flexor tendon and may need more surgery. He is a very talented pitcher and it is sad to see his career getting sidelined with injuries.
6/12/14: The Dodgers got a bit of a scare over the weekend when star outfielder Yasiel Puig left Saturday's game with an injury. He was then kept out of Sunday's game as well. Puig hurt himself sliding into second base, resulting in a strained hip flexor. The good news for those that bleed Dodger Blue is that Puig returned to the lineup on Monday. He had started 55 of the team's first 64 games and is hitting .335 with a 1.021 OPS. Those are some pretty good numbers and good reasons to keep him in the lineup, so long as he is healthy enough to play.
6/6/14: Welcome back, Matt Kemp. Kemp has been benched for a while, even though he is one of the best outfielders in the National League. He is back on the field, though it is due to injury. In the meantime, L.A. pitchers have been lights out lately. Just one day after Josh Becket threw a no hitter, they came close to a perfect game. For Kemp's sake it is a good thing that they are pitching so well, because it cannot expose any weaknesses in his game. Kemp may be traded soon, and it would not be surprising if he ended up with the Boston Red Sox.
5/29/14: The NL West looks like it is already turning into a three team race between the division leading San Francisco Giants, the surprising Colorado Rockies, and the high-priced and uber-talented L.A. Dodgers. The Rockies may be on the edge of dropping out as third baseman Nolan Arenado is out six to eight weeks. But, at its heart, baseball is for entertainment and at least Yasiel Puig gets that. He has a number of critics for 'not playing the game the right way', which seems to be code for 'enjoys himself too much'. To Puig's credit, he says that he does not play 'to offend people'. And if people are offended by excitement, then they may need to find other hobbies to pass their time. In better news, Josh Beckett threw a no-hitter against the Philies - the first of his career.
5/22/14: Remember the time that the Washington Nationals gave up on starting pitcher Dan Haren? Well, that was just a few months ago and Haren has returned to form with the Dodgers this season. He is 5-1 with a 2.84 ERA. Zack Greinke is 6-1 with a 2.38 ERA and the team has just gotten back Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw. In short, the Dodgers are stacked with quality pitching and look ready to start winning again. They have been unimpressive at home, but then again, they started slowly last season and ended up making the National League Championship Series (losing to the Cardinals).
5/15/14: Los Angeles has not had a strong stretch of games recently, going 4-6 in a 10 game stretch that dropped them to third place in the NL. West. With over 120 games left, the Dodgers certainly have time to get back on top, and are getting ace lefty Clayton Kershaw back. But they still have no love for the division leading Giants. The teams exchanged words after Yasiel Puig hit a solo home run and flipped his bat. Of course, nothing came of it, but it is just more fuel to the fire in a rivalry that began generations ago when both teams were in New York City.
5/8/14: Dodgers' outfielder Yasiel Puig cannot do anything without causing controversy, it seems like. In a game last week against the Minnesota Twins, Puig was called out on a ground ball, even though the first baseman could not handle the throw. The ruling was that he leaned towards second base while running to first base. Replays, even in slow motion, really do not capture that 'lean'. The pundits will beat this around for a week or so, but it seems like an arbitrary call, and one that is rarely, rarely ever enforced, even if it is true.
5/1/14: The Dodgers and Giants figure to be the class of the NL West this season, and the Giants have actually overtaken the Dodgers for first place in the division. L.A. has all the firepower they need to re-overtake the Giants, especially since Cy Young winner and staff ace Clayton Kershaw should be back in the rotation in the next few weeks. They may be without shortstop Hanley Ramirez for a while, though, as he injured his right thumb while swinging. It will be interesting to see what the Dodgers do if Ramirez is out for any significant time.
4/24/14: The Dodgers are off to a decent start to the season and they are expected (not just picked) to win the NL West. Of course, a key part of the team is star outfielder Yasiel Puig. Articles surfaced in the last few weeks of how Puig escaped Cuba and came to the U.S., which includes a time where he was kept against his will on an island off Mexico, being saved by a rival gang, and his promise to pay 20% of his earnings to the man who organized it all. This would seem outlandish for a soap opera.
4/17/14: It has been well documented how the Dodgers steamrolled the NL West in the second half of last season, moving from worst to first in just a matter of weeks. L.A. is the prohibitive favorite going into the 2014 season and it looks like an old rival may be back in the mix. While L.A. has the best record in the division, the Giants are right on the Dodgers' heels and only one game back. It is early, but if this kind of trend continues, then the two teams will have some separation between themselves and everyone else. The Dodgers look to get healthier soon, and Cy Young Award winning pitcher Clayton Kershaw is throwing again.
4/10/14: The season has just begun and we have already seen another over-reaction to Yasiel Puig. Puig showed up late for 'Opening Day' (the third or fourth Opening Day for the Dodgers) and was benched for the game by manager Don Mattingly. By most accounts, Mattingly acted accordingly. Player was late, player does not play that day. Of course, the anti-Puig fashion came out in full force and came just short of demanding that Puig be shipped back to Cuba. Puig seems to be a polarizing figure, seemingly because he is young and from a different culture. He may need to mature a bit, but it also seems that some journalists have it out for him.
4/3/14: The Dodgers started their season overseas this year, playing a two game series in Australia against the Arizona Diamondbacks. They swept that series and instantly became the hottest team in the league. They put their undefeated record on the line, again playing before official Opening Day, against the San Diego Padres on Sunday night. It was a pitcher's duel, with the Dodgers taking a 1-0 lead into the eighth inning. But San Diego rallied with three runs in the 8th and secured an 3-1 victory. Reliever Brian Wilson took the loss, as the beard could not save him on this night.
3/27/14: The Dodgers had the honor of being one of the two teams selected by Major League Baseball (along with the Arizona Diamondbacks) to start the regular season in a foreign land. The teams traveled to Sydney, Australia for a two game series last weekend, and the Dodgers got off to a good start against a division rival by winning both games. Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw got the nod for game one and showed that he is already in mid-season form in a dominating 3-1 victory. Game two was more interesting as the Dodgers built up a 7-1 lead going into the ninth inning. Arizona scored five runs, but the Dodgers held on and are now 2-0 on the season.
3/20/14: First Zach Grienke did not want to go, and now Carl Crawford can't go. Crawford missed the season opening series in Australia. The team that actually made the trip arrived in Sydney on Tuesday morning. Los Angeles will not have much time to get over the 15 hour plane flight and subsequent jet lag. They started practice the same day at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Up first in the rotation for the Dodgers? Who else but staff ace and reigning Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw. Arizona will start Wade Miley in place of injured Patrick Corbin.
3/13/14: Not that it is an excuse, but the Dodgers were without one of their top players in the playoffs last season when the lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS. Matt Kemp is still rehabbing from both ankle and shoulder surgery, but looks like he is not too far away from being back on the field. He is running at full speed and taking daily outfield drills in Dodger camp. He could be cleared to play soon. He will not play in the Dodgers' opening games in Australia against the Diamondbacks, but the hope is that he will be nearing 100% when the regular season starts on U.S. soil on March 30 against the Padres.
3/6/14: Well, maybe starting pitcher Zach Grienke may not have to worry about that trip to Australia after all. He was pulled after throwing just three pitches in his spring training debut last week, apparently with a strained calf muscle. The Australia trip and season opener are still a few weeks away, so no word if he will be available or not. He said a couple weeks ago what many players probably believe - that there is 'no excitement' about going halfway around the world to play two games against a team that is just an hour's flight away.
2/27/14: Major League Baseball has been starting the season overseas for the past several years. Some traditionalists do not like it, and some players complain that it shortens spring training and puts them at a disadvantage due to fatigue and odd start times. Count Dodgers' pitcher Zack Grienke among them. He is not excited to start the season in Australia. The Dodgers will play a two game series in Sydney against the rival Arizona Diamondbacks to start the 2014 season. Playing overseas is good for the overall game, but does lead to complications for those that actually have to travel and play. But, hey, its just two games.
2/20/14: What is a Dodgers update without a bit of Yasiel Puig? Puig, of course, burst onto the national scene last season with explosive hitting and a reckless attitude towards going hard at everything. That makes for great baseball, but the recklessness makes employers nervous. So Puig and the Dodgers are working on 'slowing' him down this season. That, hopefully, means less collisions with walls and reduced chance of injury. It also means that he may be less fun to watch because his aggressiveness is intoxicating and refreshing. In any case, he should still be one of the best young players in the game and worth watching.
2/13/14: The Dodgers bolstered their bullpen by adding veteran lefty Paul Maholm to a one year, $1.5 million deal last week. The $1.5 million is simply the base salary, and Maholm can earn up to $6.5 million with incentives. The Dodgers look like they got a good deal here, especially since Maholm was pretty solid in Atlanta last season - he did not allow a run to score until the sixth inning of his fourth start. He had a 3.69 ERA for the first half of the season, when he was healthy. He sprained his wrist and had some elbow inflammation in the later part of the summer, and his pitching suffered. Presumably healthy now, this should be a solid addition to the Dodgers.
2/6/14: The Dodgers missed out on Japanese league superstar Marahiro Tanaka, but they seem to be OK, especially considering they still have Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw locked up, as well as Zach Grienke. That does not even mention the other aces they have in the rotation. Some would argue that a pitcher is only as good as the catcher, and to that end the Dodgers avoided arbitration with catcher A.J. Ellis - so he will be back this coming season. The parties agreed on a one year deal for $3.55 million. While this is under the midpoint of their respected offers, Ellis can make that up in appearances and production.
1/30/14: Dodgers pitcher (and Cy Young Award winner) Clayton Kershaw is considered to be the best pitcher in baseball these days. He certainly earned the Cy Young last season and, at 25 years old, may win several more. He also signed a seven year deal that averages over $30 million annually. But here is something money cannot buy. Kershaw was presented the Cy Young by Dodgers' legend Sandy Koufax. Koufax received a standing ovation when he was on stage, and it is great to see legends of the past with the best in the baseball business today.
1/23/14: Welcome to Yankees West. The Dodgers seem to have endless amounts of cash and may have no regard at all for the luxury tax. The team announced that they have locked up Cy Young Award winning pitcher Clayton Kershaw to a seven year, $215 million contract. The number $300 million had been floated around amongst media circles, but a smaller term and value was agreed upon. While most monstrous contracts like this do not work out, Kershaw is only 25, so his best years may be ahead of him. At the same time, the question must be asked - is 20 wins per year worth $30 million per year?
1/16/14: When the wallets are full, you can take certain liberties. The Dodgers certainly have all the money they need to buy whomever they want, and they seem to want Japanese star pitcher Masahiro Tanaka. Tanaka will post at the $20 million maximum and then has some time to chose who he wants to sign with in MLB (if anyone). The Dodgers are apparently going all out to sign the young star, who won over 20 games last season in Japan. Tanaka, for his part, reportedly wants to play in L.A., New York, or Boston, should he come state-side.
1/9/14: Just seven months ago, most of the baseball world thought that Dodger manager Don Mattingly was a dead man walking. The Dodgers were off to a very slow start - particularly unacceptable considering how much money they had sunk into the roster and because a few months prior they thought they had too many starting pitchers, but soon ran out due to injuries and trades. My how the tides have turned. The team, of course, rallied in the second half of the year and made it to the playoffs. Mattingly is getting rewarded, finally, with an extension. The deal is not finished up, but is reportedly in the final stages.
1/2/14: The Dodgers are gearing up for a legitimate World Series run, but they will need everyone healthy to get there. Everyone saw how the team struggled for the first three months of 2013 (falling to last place) before getting healthy and simply dominating the National League for a couple months. One key piece is Matt Kemp. The Dodgers publicly say that it is unlikely that he will be ready for spring training, but the good news is that he is out of a walking boot. When he heals, he will likely be the Dodgers primary center fielder this season.
12/26/13: Los Angeles does not have many holes to fill this offseason, and luckily for them, they have the money to buy everything on their Christmas list. The priority earlier was third base. The Dodgers solved that issue by re-signing Juan Uribe to man the post after a solid 2013 season. L.A. is still linked to a trade for Tampa Bay ace David Price. Price has another year left on his contract and there is plenty of reason to believe the Rays will not be able to re-sign him next year - so they are looking for a trade. The price has been too high so far, but a deal may be in order before spring training or at the trade deadline.
12/26/13: They are not generating the buzz that more famous East Coast teams do, but the L.A. Kings are rolling in December. The team is 9-1 during the month. The only loss was in Chicago (a top three team) and that was back to back game as the Kings had played in Ottawa the night before. They have outscored their opponents 32-13 in the span, which means they are giving up just over a goal a game - and that wins a lot of hockey games. As a testament to that, they have three shutouts by backup goalie Martin Jones in that span. L.A. has beaten good teams including St. Louis, Anaheim, San Jose and Colorado in December and has climbed into second place in the Pacific Division.
12/19/13: The Dodgers have been tremendously active in overhauling their roster since Magic Johnson and his ownership group (and their deep pockets) took over. Many people are expecting for another big splash this offseason, and so far, that has not happened. To be fair, L.A. does not have many holes, though they do need a third baseman. They have interest in Juan Uribe, but no results so far. There is also the chance that they may trade for Rays' ace David Price. His asking price may be too much right now, so that is likely a 'wait and see' game.
12/12/13: The Dodgers have been very pleased with the play of Juan Uribe since he joined the team in 2011. Uribe has played mostly third base in that time, but he has enjoyed some of his best offensive production of his career. Last season, he posted a .769 OPS in 426 at bats. He also had a Wins Above Replacement (WAR) of 5.1 games. Los Angeles wants Uribe back and GM Ned Colletti claims he has made multiple offers to Uribe. However, the Dodgers have not heard back from the player, making it pretty difficult to pencil him on the roster for next season.
12/5/13: The Dodgers have a great one-two punch for the starting rotation with Clayton Kershaw and Zach Grienke. They also have all the money needed to buy other pitching assets if they were so inclined. They may have a couple open spots to fill. First off, Ted Lilly announced that he is retiring. Lilly has had neck and shoulder problems in the last two years. He tried to pitch winter ball in Venezuela, which did not go well. On top of that, Ricky Nolasco is now off the market as he signed with the Minnesota Twins last week.
11/28/13: Give Dodgers' phenom Yasiel Puig another gold star for his work in the community. Puig took a group of little leaguers to Dodgers' Stadium to practice last week, and even participated and signed autographs. A few weeks ago, it was reported that Puig was driving in L.A. and saw a little league practice. He stopped and helped coach the youngsters in a spur-of-the-moment decision. For all the terrible things said about the young man by media members, it seems he loves the game and has a big heart. Good for him, and good for the kids that got to go to the stadium.
11/21/13: The Los Angeles Dodgers are planning on honoring one of their own next season wiith his own Bobblehead day. No, it is not Tommy Lasorda or Sandy Koufax, it is a name never associated with the Dodgers - Babe Ruth. Ruth was base coach for the Dodgers in 1938 (back in the Brooklyn days). His only job was to show up in a uniform and he did not even get to give signals to batters or runners. He wanted to be a manager but the Dodgers told him that would not happen - and it didn't. That was the last year Ruth was in a baseball uniform, and sadly, only for publicity purposes.
11/14/13: The Dodgers announced a minor move this week, moving Tim Wallach from third base coach to bench coach. Wallach interviewed for a few managerial positions over the past couple of months and was a finalist for both the Seattle and Detroit jobs. He was not hired for either, as those jobs went to Brad Ausmus and Lloyed McClendon, respectfully. The Dodgers' bench coach position became open when the Dodgers fired Trey Hillman. Perhaps this move will give Wallach the bench experience he needs to finally land a big league manager position in the future, while providing continuity in the short term.
11/7/13: Spending about $230 million on a payroll that only got to the National League Championship Series was not enough, so the Dodgers may open the wallet back up to bring in some more big name free agents. The team may pursue Tampa Bay Rays pitcher David Price as well as try to pry Masahiro Tanaka from Japan. They have the minor league resources to trade for Price, and the Rays love young talent. And they simply have the money to buy Tanaka if they want. They would have one of the most amazing rotations around with Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Price, Tanaka, and Hyun-Jin Ryu.
10/31/13: For all the talk about Yasiel Puig being to flamboyant and immature and even selfish, he gave something back last week. Puig showed up unannounced to a little league baseball practice. He played with the kids, gave a few lessons, and signed autographs. Apparently, he was just driving by and decided to stop in for the impromptu visit. That kind of generosity is uncommon with today's athlete and should not go unrewarded or unnoticed. It was a great thing that Puig did and created lifelong memories for the youngsters - and will hopefully go a long way to debunking his reputation.
10/24/13: The Dodgers had the most exciting season of any team. They started out terrible. Got into brawls with several teams. Called up a young prospect that sparked them from 9.5 games back (and in last place) to a double digit lead on the rest of the NL West. They eliminated the Braves easily and were favored against the Cardinals. But the Cardinals rookie pitchers were better than Dodgers' aces Zack Grienke and Clayton Kershaw. The final game, in St. Louis, had to be the toughest. The Cardinals knocked Kershaw out of the Game in the fifth inning and built up a 9-0 lead. Ignoring the last game (and first tow months), the Dodgers had a great season and look for more next season - especially since they have an unlimited budget and are building thier team in the Yankees mold. The bottom line is that a $250 million payroll does not buy a championship.
10/17/13: The National League Championship Series will go back to St. Louis for a game 5. The Dodgers started the series with their two aces Zach Grienke and Clayton Kershaw taking the mound in Games 1 and 2. Both pitched well, but the Cardinals' rookie pitchers were up to the task and kept the Dodgers to only two runs in the first two games. L.A. won Game 3 behind a nice outing by Ryu - who outdueled St. Louis ace Adam Wainwright en route to a 3-0 win. It has been a great series so far and should not be missed by any baseball fan.
10/10/13: The Dodgers are moving on to the National League Championship Series. A win in that round puts them in the World Series. L.A. eliminated the Atlanta Braves three games to one in the divisional round, which included a demoralizing rout in game three. This has been an amazing season for the Dodgers. They were in last place and given up for dead back in June, then turned everything around. They ended up dominating the NL West (and the rest of the league) from June on and now sit only four wins away from going to the World Series.
10/3/13: The Dodgers completed their amazing turnaround from the beginning of the season and captured the NL West title. For all the press the Dodgers received about their strong play from June on, they actually enter the playoffs with the fewest wins of any National League team. That may be surprising, but the NL West was not that good this season. They will start the playoffs with a series against the Atlanta Braves. The Braves will have homefield advantage for the best of five matchup. L.A. will also be without Matt Kemp who has an ankle injury that the team announced has ended his season already.
9/26/13: The Dodgers, to no one's surprise, clinched the National League West this past week. They did it on the road against the Diamondbacks, becoming the first team besides the D'Backs to clinch a championship in Arizona. The Dodgers were obviously joyous, but took the celebration too far in some peoples' opinions. They celebrated by swimming in the pool at the ballpark, which angered some fans and local reporters. Perhaps this is being disrespectful to the home team, but it also begs the question of why have a swimming pool at a baseball park in the first place?
9/19/13: Of course Dodgers' outfielder Yasiel Puig and ace pitcher Clayton Kershaw get most of the publicity - and they are deserving of it. However, Hanley Ramirez has put up a very impressive year for the Dodgers, even if he is stuck in the shadows. Looking closely at the Dodgers' two month assault on the league, one could argue that Ramirez was the MVP, and not Puig or Kershaw. Unfortunately, Ramirez has some tightness in a hamstring and will be out of the line up for a week or so. L.A. has a comfortable lead, so they have the luxury of sitting him - as long as he is ready for the playoffs.
9/12/13: The wins have come so easy for the Dodgers over the last two months maybe we should have expected a bit of a slide. They were swept by the Cincinnati Reds over the weekend. That does not matter too much to L.A., who owns a commanding lead in the NL West and will undoubtedly be in the playoffs. It does, however, mean a lot more to the Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates, and St. Louis Cardinals. The NL Central leaders were depending on L.A. to put a dagger in the Reds, but the opposite happened. No worries for the Dodgers, however. The team is still 12 games up on their nearest rival.
9/4/13: Dodgers' manager Don Mattingly caused a minor stir this past week by pulling Yasiel Puig from a game in the fifty inning for not being prepared defensively. Many in the media say this is a long time coming and that Puig has to mature. Puig is young and does not have the experience that most big leaguers have. However, he is also a dynamic player and the Dodgers' would not be dominating the NL West without him. The Dodgers are fortunate enough to have a large lead in the division and they can sit Puig while the season winds down. The question then becomes how does he behave and perform in the playoffs.
8/29/13: Lost in the Dodgers 43-10 run and Puig-mania is the fact that star center fielder Matt Kemp has barely played. In fact, he has only 37 at bats during the streak that saw the Dodgers go from worst to first in a couple of months. The Dodgers need Kemp to heal well enough for their playoff run, which would allow Andre Ethier to move to his natural position in left field. Kemp can also hit, but simply having his defense available make the Dodgers an even tougher team to beat in the playoffs and possibly the World Series.
8/22/13: No question that the Dodgers have been the best team in the entire league over the past couple of months. They are 42-8 in their last 50 games, which ties a major league record and includes winning their last 11 outings. At this point, they have all but locked up the NL West. Arizona was closest, but they can really only hope to compete for a wild card spot now. As a side note, of the three teams that have gone 42 and 8 over 50 games, two (St. Louis Cardinals and New York Yankees) won the World Series. The other was the Cubs in 1906, and they (predictably) lost out on the championship.
8/15/13: The Dodgers continue to roll on, especially on the road. L.A. visited the struggling St. Louis Cardinals for a four game series, and took three games in the Gateway City. Yasiel Puig continues to impress, after he took a double off the wall and made the relay to the second baseman, who made a perfect throw home and got the Cardinals' runner out. L.A. is in command of the NL West at this point, and it seems that all other teams are just fighting for a wild card spot, which will be tough to get considering St. Louis and Cincinnati are well above the pack.
8/8/13: Everyone hated the Dodgers in mid-June when half the team was injured. Then came Puig and Hanley Ramirez came back. And Greinke came back. And a host of other high paid players. Now the Dodgers are the hottest team in the league. They have gone from last in the division to holding a 3.5 game lead and show no signs of relinquishing their cushion. If the Dodgers can keep somewhere near this pace, then they actually have a chance to catch the Cardinals and Pirates for the best record in the National League - which would give them home field throughout the playoffs.
8/1/13: Now that Puig-mania has settled down a bit, it is time to look at the Dodgers for who they are - which right now is the best team in the NL West. The team has come all the way back to take a multi-game lead in the NL West, and is showing everyone that they are a force to be reckoned with come playoffs. At this point, the only competition appears to be the Arizona Diamondbacks, with no one else within six games of the Dodgers. What is funny is that now manager Don Mattingly looks like a prophet, where as six weeks ago many thought he was the worst manager in baseball.
7/25/13: The Dodgers have gotten hot and the entire National League West is shaking in their collective boots - at least that is what the national media would have you think. It is true that the Dodgers are surging. Six weeks ago it looked like manager Don Mattingly was out of the place. Now he is a genius. L.A. is within striking distance of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the two teams are starting to separate themselves from the rest of the pack. Should the trends continue, then the L.A. Dodgers may well win the division after all.
7/18/13: It will not get the publicity that Tim Lincecum's no-hitter got for him, but Dodgers' pitcher Zack Grienke tossed a gem of a two-hit complete game of his own on Saturday. The complete game shutout against the Rockies included nine strikeouts, and he did not even record his first strikeout until the fifth inning. Young star Yasiel Puig sat out the game with a minor hip injury, but the team did not need his help as Grienke did exactly what the Dodgers paid him so much money in the offseason to do - keep other teams off base.
7/11/13: All of Major League Baseball is buzzing about the appropriateness of the Dodgers' star young outfielder Yasiel Puig going to the All-Star Game. Phillies closer Johnathan Papelbon said it would be "a joke" if he goes. The real problem is that MLB needs to decide what this game is. Is it an exhibition for fans to see their favorite players, or is it a real game that is earned by merit. In either case, Puig has an argument. People certainly want to see him. Also, he has been the hottest player in the game (albeit for only a month), and could be a contributor for the National League.
7/4/13: About a year ago, the Boston Red Sox and L.A. Dodgers made a megatrade. The Dodgers got Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, and Josh Beckett. One year later and it looks like the Red Sox got the better end of the deal. The Dodgers picked up $250 million of contract obligations and a lot of time on the disabled list. Beckett has been particularly disappointing. He was 0-5 and huge ERA when he went on the DL in May. He is now out for the season with nerve damage and will undergo surgery to release the pressure. The Dodgers have been snakebitten all year and this is just another item to a long list of terrible season.
6/27/13: Some Dodgers faithful are getting upset with Bruce Bochy, who happens to manage the archrival San Francisco Giants and is the National League manager for the All-Star Game. Dodger fans want rookie Yasiel Puig in the game. Bochy is not inclined to add him to the roster. Puig is leading the league in hitting since he was called up, at well over .400. In Bochy's defense, Puig has only been in the big leagues for a few weeks. While he has set the league on fire, he really does not have the length of service to warrant an All-Star Game invite. That being said, this is a game for the fans, and the fans want to see Puig.
6/20/13: The L.A. Dodgers just don't spend enough money. The $230 million payroll is obviously not enough. That must be the thinking as the Dodgers and ace pitcher Clayton Kershaw are negotiating a long-term deal. Felix Hernandez and Justin Verlander each signed the richest deals, but Kershaw's is expected to eclipse that. Kershaw is only 25 years old and has a Cy Young - so he may be worth $250 million over 8-10 years. That does not excuse the Dodgers of giving Zack Grienke about $150 million or taking over the Josh Becket and Carl Crawford deals. The question must be asked: Are they simply printing their own money in Los Angeles these days?
6/13/13: The biggest story in baseball this week is Dodgers' rookie sensation Yasiel Puig. Puig burst on to the big stage this week in a major way. He hit four home runs in his first five games. He threw out a runner at first base, from right field, to end a game. And most importantly, he has given Dodger fans something to cheer about. He will not continue this torrid pace, but he should be a fixture on the team for years to come. He is bringing the spark and excitement back to Dodger Stadium - one that has not been seen since Manny Ramirez and "Mannywood" came to town several years ago.
6/6/13: This week's report on the Dodgers is much like every other week. Manager Don Mattingly, who was given a $230 million roster, is on the hot seat because the team is doing very poorly, and there is another significant injury. This time is is Carl Crawford. Crawford pulled up lame as he ran into second base over the weekend. He was holding his hamstring and limping. There is no timetable for his return, but hamstrings often take a few weeks to heal properly. At eight games under 500 and in last place in the NL West, the last thing the team needs is another injury to a starter.
5/30/13: The end may be near for the Don Mattingly era in L.A. While it is true that the Dodgers have suffered an unbelievably high number of injuries - particularly to their starting pitching and to shortstop Hanley Ramirez - this is a team of high priced all stars that has just not come to play at all this season. Most recently, the Cardinals took two of three from the Dodgers over the weekend, including scoring the most runs off of staff ace Clayton Kershaw since last July. The season seems over before it even began for the Dodgers, and the next step will probably mean new faces in the clubhouse.
5/23/13: So the Dodgers are in last place. That is especially hard to hear for those that bleed Dodger Blue after all the money they spent the last two years to win a World Series. But the Dodgers have been snake bitten this year. They started out with nine (count them, nine) pitchers who could be starters. But between trades and injuries, they are down to two or three. Zach Grienke came back, but he alone is not enough to move the needle. L.A. may have already played themselves out of a playoff spot, but with a good second half, then maybe they can prove that they are a team worth considering.
5/16/13: All is not well in Dodgertown. The team lost eight in a row before finally defeating the hapless Miami Marlins at home. The losing streak has dropped the team to fourth in the division, looking up at the San Francisco Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Colorado Rockies. L.A. has been decimated by injuries to their starting pitching and Hanley Ramirez is not coming back anytime soon. Rumors are swirling now that manager Don Mattingly is on the hot seat, though a lot of this is simply out of his control. But L.A. is paying for a winner, so only time will tell.
5/9/13: The Dodgers are simply snake bitten this season. L.A. loaded up on big names through trades and free agency once former L.A. Lakers superstar Magic Johnson and his group purchased the team. Money is no object. What is an object is the unbelievable amount of injuries the team has suffered. They started spring training with 9 pitchers. Only two are healthy. One of their callups, Steven Fife, went down right away. Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez broke his thumb in the World Championships. He came back last Monday, then pulled his hamstring on Thursday. The Giants and Rockies are being handed the division race right now, leaving the Dodgers dazed and confused.
5/2/13: The Dodgers just keep losing starting pitchers. The talk around Dodgers' camp a month ago was they had too many starting pitchers. Now they have proven that too much is never enough. Call up Steven Fife (replacing the injured Ted Lilly) has been placed on the 15 day disabled list with bursitis in his right shoulder. Matt McGill has been called up to fill in . He will be the ninth starting pitcher for LA this season, and the season is less than a month old. Without their rotation, this looks like the Giants division to lose this season.
4/25/13: It seems like only yesterday when the Dodgers had eight, count 'em, eight starting pitchers. Well, that was a couple months ago in spring training. Now they only have three active. The latest casualty is Chad Billingsley. He is done for the year with a Tommy John injury and will be out 12 months. Ted Lilly will return from the DL soon making it four pitchers. Zach Grienke is out for a few months with a broken collarbone. Chris Cauano has a calf injury, and the Dodgers traded away Aaron Harang because they had a surplus. Go figure.
4/18/13: By now everyone has heard about the Quinten vs. Zach Grienke showdown. In the aftermath, the San Diego Padres lost Quinten for eight games (or less than 5% of the season). Grienke meanwhile is out for about two months (or 33% of the season). That is a tough pill to swallow for the Dodgers, particularly since Grienke was just signed to a $147 million contract. Quinten, very smartly mind you, dropped his appeal of his suspension. Dodgers and Padres are up again early next week, so maybe it is best that he sits out that series.
4/4/13: The Dodgers got off to a hot start against their arch rival, the San Francisco Giants. Dodgers' ace Clayton Kershaw got the start at home on opening day, and he made it a memorable one. Kershaw went the distance, pitching a four hit complete game shutout in a gem of an exhibition. Additionally, Kershaw hit his first career home run. He gave L.A. a one to nothing lead at the time, so he ended up knocking in the winning run. It is only one game, but the Dodgers looked like a team on the rise against the defending World Series Champions.
3/21/13: All Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez was a big 'get' for the Dodgers last year, as the team loaded up on talent to become the Yankees East (or the NL Anaheim). Ramirez is one of the better shortstops available (and is thankfully out of Miami), so the team is rightfully concerned about his thumb. The prognosis is that he could be out two weeks or two months. He injured the thumb while playing third base and diving for a ball in the Championship Game of the World Baseball Classic. It could be a sprain or a ligament tear. And people wonder why team owners do not want their players playing in the WBC.
7/30/12 ? With the trade deadline approaching, the Los Angeles Dodgers made some moves to bolster their team for the stretch run. The Dodgers reached into the talent pool of the NL East for their needs. From the Miami Marlins, the Dodgers acquired shortstop/third-baseman Hanley Ramirez and relief pitcher Randy Choate. From the Philadelphia Phillies, outfielder Shane Victorino and pitcher Joe Blanton were traded to the Dodgers. All four players go from the bottom of the NL East to the top of the NL West. Ramirez and Victorino give more depth to a strong Dodgers offense led by Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier, while Blanton and Choate join a pitching staff that has overachieved to be the strength of this Dodgers team.
The Los Angeles Dodgers added a new offensive weapon for their postseason playoff push, acquiring infielder Hanley Ramirez in a four-player trade with the Miami Marlins. A three-time All-Star and former National League batting champion, Ramirez is hitting .251 with 14 homers and 48 RBI's this year. The 28-year-old has been a disappointment over the past two seasons. He is expected to fill in at third base and take over for Juan Uribe who is hitting just .190 with two homers and 17 RBI's. The Dodgers also acquired left-fielder Randy Choate for starter Nate Eovaldi and minor league right-hander Scott McGough. Los Angeles is 2 _ games behind the NL West-leading San Francisco Giants.
The sliding Los Angeles Dodgers needed something to provide them with a much- needed spark and that spark came in the form of a trade on Wednesday that sent Miami Marlins third baseman Hanley Ramirez to the Dodgers. Ramirez, who was moved from shortstop to third base this season with the arrival of Jose Reyes in Miami, debuted on Wednesday night for the Dodgers, although he played third base instead of going back to his natural position. Interestingly, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly offered Ramirez the choice to play either shortstop or third and Hanley picked third. In his debut, Ramirez picked up two hits and an RBI.
The depleted Los Angeles Dodgers have been struggling to score runs lately, and are currently in the midst of a major midseason swoon, having lost 9 of their last 10. The Dodgers, who once held the best record in baseball only a few short weeks ago, are now in second place in the NL West at 43-34 and are sorely missing Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier. Kemp, who will likely not return until the All-Star break, is the biggest bat in the Dodgers lineup and has been a big reason why Los Angeles has struggled to score in his absence.
The Los Angeles Dodgers owned the best record in baseball before being swept by the Oakland Athletics this week and losing the crown, at least fpr the moment, to the Texas Rangers. The sweep was capped off by the Dodgers falling 4-1 on Thursday after A's rookie Yoenis Cespedes hit a three-run walk-off home run. The Dodgers will now face their Los Angeles counterparts, the Angels, in a three-game interleague series this weekend. The Dodgers will send the 8-2 Chris Capuano to the mound for the series opener on Friday night.
Sporting the best record in baseball halfway through the month of June and about a month before the All-Star break, the Los Angeles Dodgers continue to be on a tear as of late, winning 7 of their last 10 games and storming out to a 40-24 record, becoming the first team to reach the 40-win plateau this season. The Dodgers are four games in front of the second-place Giants. Los Angeles will open up a three-game series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium against the Chicago White Sox and will send their ace Clayton Kershaw (5-3, 2.65 ERA) to the mound against Chris Sale.
After completing a four-game sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies, the 37-21 Los Angeles Dodgers find themselves in first place in the NL West, 4 games ahead of the San Francisco Giants. Despite the fact that Matt Kemp remains on the DL with his hamstring injury, the Dodgers continue to get on base and score runs against just about anyone, and are one of the hottest teams in baseball at the moment. They will begin a three-game interleague series with the Seattle Mariners on Friday night and will look to keep their winning streak going against American League competition.
The Los Angeles Dodgers completed a four game sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies as they continue to play well without injured outfielder Matt Kemp. The Dodgers own the best record in the majors and hold a four game lead in the NL West over the San Francisco Giants. Starter Chris Capuano is in the early running for best offseason signing as he has posted a 8-2 record with a 2.82 ERA in just first year in Los Angeles aftre going 11-12 last season with the Mets. Capuano has never finished a season with an ERA under three, but looks like he will change that this season.
With the best record in baseball as we begin the month of June, the Los Angeles Dodgers are actually on a losing streak, believe it or not. The 32-19 Dodgers are losers of their last four games, and still they manage to have the best mark in the league. They lead the second-place San Francisco Giants by a comfortable 5 games in the NL West and are winning ballgames thanks to outstanding pitching from the trio of Clayton Kershaw, Ted Lilly, and Chris Capuano. However, the Dodgers did get some bad news this week as Matt Kemp returned to the lineup only to reinjure him hamstring and leave the game. A return to the DL for Kemp is imminent and he will likely miss some more time.
With the best record in baseball as we begin the month of June, the Los Angeles Dodgers are actually on a losing streak, believe it or not. The 32-19 Dodgers are losers of their last four games, and still they manage to have the best mark in the league. They lead the second-place San Francisco Giants by a comfortable 5 games in the NL West and are winning ballgames thanks to outstanding pitching from the trio of Clayton Kershaw, Ted Lilly, and Chris Capuano. However, the Dodgers did get some bad news this week as Matt Kemp returned to the lineup only to reinjure him hamstring and leave the game. A return to the DL for Kemp is imminent and he will likely miss some more time. The Los Angeles Dodgers completed a four game sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies as they continue to play well without injured outfielder Matt Kemp. The Dodgers own the best record in the majors and hold a four game lead in the NL West over the San Francisco Giants. Starter Chris Capuano is in the early running for best offseason signing as he has posted a 8-2 record with a 2.82 ERA in just first year in Los Angeles aftre going 11-12 last season with the Mets. Capuano has never finished a season with an ERA under three, but looks like he will change that this season. After completing a four-game sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies, the 37-21 Los Angeles Dodgers find themselves in first place in the NL West, 4 games ahead of the San Francisco Giants. Despite the fact that Matt Kemp remains on the DL with his hamstring injury, the Dodgers continue to get on base and score runs against just about anyone, and are one of the hottest teams in baseball at the moment. They will begin a three-game interleague series with the Seattle Mariners on Friday night and will look to keep their winning streak going against American League competition. Sporting the best record in baseball halfway through the month of June and about a month before the All-Star break, the Los Angeles Dodgers continue to be on a tear as of late, winning 7 of their last 10 games and storming out to a 40-24 record, becoming the first team to reach the 40-win plateau this season. The Dodgers are four games in front of the second-place Giants. Los Angeles will open up a three-game series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium against the Chicago White Sox and will send their ace Clayton Kershaw (5-3, 2.65 ERA) to the mound against Chris Sale. The Los Angeles Dodgers owned the best record in baseball before being swept by the Oakland Athletics this week and losing the crown, at least fpr the moment, to the Texas Rangers. The sweep was capped off by the Dodgers falling 4-1 on Thursday after A's rookie Yoenis Cespedes hit a three-run walk-off home run. The Dodgers will now face their Los Angeles counterparts, the Angels, in a three-game interleague series this weekend. The Dodgers will send the 8-2 Chris Capuano to the mound for the series opener on Friday night. The depleted Los Angeles Dodgers have been struggling to score runs lately, and are currently in the midst of a major midseason swoon, having lost 9 of their last 10. The Dodgers, who once held the best record in baseball only a few short weeks ago, are now in second place in the NL West at 43-34 and are sorely missing Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier. Kemp, who will likely not return until the All-Star break, is the biggest bat in the Dodgers lineup and has been a big reason why Los Angeles has struggled to score in his absence.

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August 18, 2014

Top 5 Games of Last Week (8/11/14 - 8/17/14)

I wouldn't put NFL preseason games on this list last week, and this week's no different. Just can't do it. I mean, besides the fact that the NFL charges regular season prices for preseason football, it's just bad football. Thankfully, there's plenty of other action to take its place. #5. Houston Astros at Boston Red Sox…

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The Midsummer Classic's in the rear view mirror and the MLB Postseason is still off in the distance, and that puts as right in sweet spot for trade season. As is tradition, Major League Baseball's non…

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